Combining Television Broadcast and Personalized/Interactive Information

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an improved method and system for interactive broadcast and web information browsing. In embodiments of the invention, web information is presented in conjunction with a broadcast television image, either at an edge of the image screen or overlaid with the image screen in an opaque, transparent or translucent image. The presented web information is fully interactive and can be interacted with by the user using all known features of interactive web presentation.

This application is submitted in the name of the following inventors:

Inventor Citizenship Residence City and State Weinstein, Steven UnitedStates Palo Alto, California Palmer, James United States Redwood City,California Fulker, James United States Palo Alto, California Johnson,Tyler United States Piedmont, California Katz, Geoff United States SanFrancisco, California Vickers, Mark United States Belmont, CaliforniaYu, Chee Malaysia Dublin, California

The assignee is Network Computer, Inc., a corporation having an officeat 1000 Bridge Parkway, Redwood Shores, Calif. 94065.

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Combining Television Broadcast and Personalized/Interactive Information

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of the following applications:

-   -   Application Ser. No. 08/770,238, filed Dec. 20, 1996, in the        name of inventors Wei Yen and Steven Weinstein, titled “Internet        Multiplexer for Broadcast and Other Information”, attorney        docket NAV-001;    -   Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/047,809, filed May 16, 1997,        in the name of inventors Steven Weinstein, James Palmer, James        Fulker and Jeffrey Mock, titled “User Interface,” attorney        docket number NAV-004P.

Each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference as iffully set forth herein. These applications are collectively referred toherein as the “Navio Disclosures.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a system for combining interactive broadcastand web information browser.

As used herein, the term “broadcast” includes wide variations on thetheme of broadcast, including cablecast, narrowcast, network multicast,“push” technology, and other variations of simultaneous informationdistribution to a plurality of recipients.

As used herein, the term “interactive” includes wide variations on thetheme of interactivity and personalization, including both of thefollowing:

-   -   interactive systems in which a recipient of information has a        transmission channel by which to express preferences or to        request information of a specific type; and    -   personalized systems in which a recipient of information can        select among a plurality of simultaneously distributed sets of        information, in which the particular information presented to        the recipient is responsive to individual or personal        preferences or selections (instead of the information being        identically presented to a mass audience).

As used herein, the term “personalized” also includes wide variations onthe theme of interactivity and personalization, similar to thoseencompassed within the term “interactive.” Information distributionreferred to herein as “interactive” also includes the many concepts ofpersonalization; information distribution referred to herein as“personalized” also includes the many concepts of interactivity.

As used herein, the terms “web,” “HTML,” and “embedded information” alsoinclude wide variations on the theme of information provided by a serverand including links or hyperlinks to other information. For example,other internet information retrieval protocols, such as electronic mail,file transfer, gopher, IRC, telnet, are within the scope and spirit ofthe invention, and should be considered at each use of the term “web.”Moreoyer, other information formats, including SGML, XML, and graphicaldocument formats or word processor formats that allow for linking orhyperlinking, are also within the scope and spirit of the invention, andshould be considered at each use of the terms “HTML” or “embedded.”

2. Related Art

Known information distribution systems include broadcast media, such asradio and television, and interactive media, such as telephone systemsand electronic mail. Recent computer systems include the World Wide Web(the “web”), which is interactive in that users, using web clients, canrequest information from web servers, and after receiving thatinformation can display or present it for review. Information availableusing the web includes text, graphics, pictures, sound, animation, andprograms or program applets such as Java or JavaScript.

Many users would like to receive both broadcast information andinteractive (or personalized) information in a unified interface,whether or not that unified interface has a return transmission channelby which to express preferences or to request information. It would beadvantageous for the unified interface to combine both the broadcast andinteractive (or personalization) features, that is, to allow the user tointeract with and personalize broadcast information, and to receiveinteractive or personalized information without closely and activelyrequesting it. It would also be advantageous for the unified interfaceto simultaneously present both broadcast information, and interactive orpersonalized information, without either interfering with the other.

One problem in the known art is that broadcast television signals aredesigned for presentation over the entire screen of a televisionmonitor, while web pages (and other interactive or personalized content)are also designed for presentation over the entire screen, or at leastmost of the entire screen. Since there is only a finite amount of screenspace for presentation of visual material, this problem makes itdifficult for the user to simultaneously receive and present bothbroadcast information and interactive or personalized information, aseach tends to interfere with the other.

A first method in the known art is to reserve a separate mode on anotherwise ordinary television set for presentation of web information.In this known method, the user selects the separate mode forpresentation of web information, and selects television channels (anddeselects the separate mode) for presentation of broadcast televisioninformation. While this known method achieves the presentation of bothbroadcast and interactive information, it has the drawback that bothkinds of information are not presented simultaneously, and the user doesnot achieve the advantage of simultaneously using both the broadcast andinteractive models of receiving information.

A second method in the known art is to use a “picture-in-picture”feature of broadcast television receivers to present a relativelysmaller version of a broadcast television picture while simultaneouslypresenting web information (or other broadcast television information)to the user. While this known method achieves the presentation of bothbroadcast and interactive information, it has the drawback that at leastsome of the interactive information is covered up by thepicture-in-picture feature, and thus is not readily viewable by theuser.

A third method in the known art is to present raw text, selected from anout-of-band part of the television signal such as the VBI (verticalblanking interval) in a reserved section of the television display. Thisknown method is used for “closed caption” television subtitles. However,this known method only achieves the presentation of broadcastinformation, as the subtitles are not subject to interactive use by theuser. Moreover, this known method is limited to presentation of onlysimple information, such as raw text and some rudimentary blockgraphics; it is also opaque and interferes with display of the broadcasttelevision signal. This simple information is supplied by thebroadcaster for all recipient devices, and is neither interactive norpersonalized.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved method andsystem for combining television broadcast and personalized/interactiveinformation. This advantage is achieved in embodiments of the inventionin which personalized or interactive graphical information is presentedin conjunction with a broadcast television image. either at an edge ofthe image screen or overlaid with the image screen in an opaque,transparent, translucent, or at least partially transparent ortranslucent, image. The presented web information is fully interactiveor personalized, and can be interacted with, and personalized, by theuser using all known features of interactive or personalized webpresentation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an improved method and system for combiningtelevision broadcast and personalized/interactive information. Inembodiments of the invention, personalized or interactive graphicalinformation (such as web information) is presented in conjunction with abroadcast television image, either at an edge of the image screen oroverlaid with the image screen in an opaque, transparent, translucent,or at least partially transparent or translucent, image. The presentedweb information is fully interactive or personalized, and can beinteracted with, and personalized, by the user using all known featuresof interactive or personalized web presentation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system for combining televisionbroadcast and personalized/interactive information.

FIG. 2 (including panels 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D) shows a set of diagrams ofscreens for displaying television broadcast and personalized/interactiveinformation in combination.

FIG. 3 shows a process flow diagram of a method for combining televisionbroadcast and personalized/interactive information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following description, a preferred embodiment of the invention isdescribed with regard to preferred process steps and data structures.However, those skilled in the art would recognize, after perusal of thisapplication, that embodiments of the invention may be implemented usingone or more general purpose processors (or special purpose processorsadapted to the particular process steps and data structures) operatingunder program control, or other special purpose circuits, and thatimplementation of the preferred process steps and data structuresdescribed herein using such equipment would not require undueexperimentation or further invention.

System Elements

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system for combining televisionbroadcast and personalized/interactive information.

A system 100 for combining television broadcast andpersonalized/interactive information includes the following elements:

-   -   one or more individual recipients 110 who receive information,        and who can interactively select information to receive or        personalize the information they receive;    -   a display element 120 disposed for displaying information to one        or more individual recipients 110;    -   an input element 130 disposed for receiving choices or other        information from the individual recipients 110;    -   a display controller 140 disposed for selecting information to        be distributed to the individual recipients 110, and for        controlling distribution of that information to the display        element 120;    -   a broadcast information interface 150 disposed for receiving        broadcast information and decoding or demodulating that        broadcast information for use by the display controller 140; and    -   an interactive information interface 160 disposed for receiving        interactive or personalized information and transmitting that        interactive or personalized information to the display        controller 140.

In a preferred embodiment, the individual recipients 110 compriseindividual users, and can be distinguished by the system 100 byrequiring one or more of them to login or to otherwise identifythemselves.

In alternative embodiments, the individual recipients 110 may includedevices that maintain information about individual user preferences, andwhich interact with the system 100 to make the system 100 responsive tothose preferences. For example, the individual recipients 110 mayinclude electronic devices such as cellular telephones, pagers, orpersonal electronic notebooks, which record user preferences andinteract with the system 100.

The display element 120 includes a television monitor 121 and a speaker122. The television monitor 121 is disposed for displaying still pictureand motion picture information for viewing by the users. Similarly, thespeaker 122 is disposed for presenting audio information to the users,and can be packaged with the television monitor 121 as part of atelevision set, or can be packaged as a set of headphones for one ormore users.

The input element 130 can include a keyboard 131, such as analphanumeric keyboard, and a pointing device 132, such as a mouse,trackball, or joystick.

In a preferred embodiment, the keyboard 131 comprises a special-purposekeyboard adapted to the techniques described herein, including buttonsdisposed for directing the display controller 140 to move a cursordisplayed on the television monitor 121, and buttons disposed forselecting an item indicated by the cursor. For example, the keyboard 131can comprise a television remote control. The keyboard 131 and itsoperation can be such as described in the Navio Disclosures.

The display controller 140 includes a processor, program and data memoryfor executing operating system and application programs, and storage forstoring and retrieving one or more sets of user preferences.

In a preferred embodiment, the broadcast information interface 150includes a television tuner, disposed for control by the displaycontroller 140.

In alternative embodiments, the broadcast information interface 150 mayinclude, either in addition or instead, other devices for receivingbroadcast information (as that term is used broadly herein), such as acable television receiver, a satellite receiver, a video-cassetteplayer/recorder, or other known transducers for pre-selected informationgenerally distributed en masse.

The interactive information interface 160 includes a communication link161 to an information server 162. For example, in a preferredembodiment, the interactive information interface 160 includes a modem163 disposed for coupling using an ISP (internet service provider) to atleast one selected server on the internet (or more specifically, theweb).

In alternative embodiments, there is no special requirement that theinteractive information interface 160 be included in the system 100. Asdescribed herein, the broadcast information interface 150 may provideinformation in multiple streams, of which one or more such streams maybe selected by the individual recipients 110 for display.

Nature of Display

FIG. 2 (including panels 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D) shows a set of diagrams ofscreens for displaying television broadcast and personalized/interactiveinformation in combination.

Menu Bar

A first panel 2A shows a screen 210 having a first region 211 fordisplay of broadcast information or web information and a second region212 for display of a menu bar.

In the first panel 2A, the second region 212 is for display of a menubar, comprising a selected set of graphical and text objects for displayat the request of the individual recipients 110.

In a preferred embodiment, the second region 212 includes a firstsub-region 213 for display of a television signal, and a set of secondsub-regions 214 for display of interactive controls. For example, thefirst sub-region 213 can display a television signal for a selectedtelevision channel, to which the broadcast information interface 150 istuned for reception, even while the individual recipients 110 requestand retrieve web information.

The first region 211 can either be obscured, or not obscured, by theappearance of the menu bar, at the selection of the individualrecipients 110.

If the individual recipients 110 select that the first region 211 shouldbe obscured, the menu bar overrides the display for its part of thescreen 210. If the individual recipients 110 select that the firstregion 211 should not be obscured, the broadcast information isredisplayed or resized to encompass the information entirely within thefirst region 211. This can be accomplished by changing an aspect ratioof the broadcast information, or by leaving a portion of the firstregion 211 blank while not changing any aspect ratio.

In a preferred embodiment, the menu bar in the second region 212 issimilar even when the first region 211 is used to display webinformation. Thus, the individual recipients 110 can have a continuousdisplay of a selected television signal even while requesting anddisplaying web information.

Control Panel and Ticker

A second panel 2B shows a screen 220 having a first region 221 fordisplay of broadcast information, and a set of second regions 212 fordisplay of web information in an opaque, transparent, translucent, or atleast partially transparent or translucent, manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the second panel 2B comprises a model for thedefault home page that is accessed by most individual recipients 110upon startup of the system 100 (described in further detail withreference to FIG. 3).

The first region 221 for display of broadcast information is modeled asa web graphic that is transparent, either fully or partially, with aselected television signal designated as a background source. Thedisplay controller 140 formats the screen 220 to display the backgroundsource, except in the set of second regions 222 where the backgroundgraphic is overlaid by one or more translucent or opaque (or at leastpartially translucent) selected web graphics. These selected webgraphics can themselves include television signals.

The set of second regions 222 includes a first subset, including controlbuttons for selecting preferences or requesting a particular service(such as a selected screen for composing or reviewing electronic mail).The choice of which control elements to display can be responsive to oneor more of the following:

-   -   preferences set by the individual recipients 110, or implied by        their past actions;    -   selections made by the individual recipients 110 using the        control elements themselves; and    -   interactive information made available by the system 100, such        as news bulletins or alerts indicating incoming messages.

The set of second regions 222 also includes a second subset, includingan animated ticker for continuously displaying information that can beof interest to the individual recipients 110. The choice of whatinformation to display in the animated ticker can be responsive to oneor more of the following:

-   -   preferences set by the individual recipients 110, or implied by        their past actions, operating to filter a sequence of new        information; and    -   selections made by the individual recipients 110, including        selecting one or more of the ticker elements for further        information.    -   When the individual recipients 110 make selections responsive to        the ticker elements, the system 100 responds similarly to any        other request for interactive information. For example, each        ticker element can include an HTML pointer to a web page or        embedded object for further display or processing.

Broadcast Information in a Web Frame

A third panel 2C shows a screen 230 having a first region 231 fordisplay of web information, including a second region 232 for display ofbroadcast information in a frame of the web page.

In a preferred embodiment, the second region 232 for display ofbroadcast information includes an entire screen of television signals,either resized but using a same aspect ratio, or resized or not andusing a different aspect ratio, to present the entire television signalscreen is present without distortion.

The first region 231 for display of web information can include a set ofembedded objects, including HTML links to other web objects, which canthemselves comprise frames having other selected television signals.

Broadcast Information as a Web Embedded Object

A fourth panel 2D shows a screen 240 having a first region 241 fordisplay of web information, and a second region 242 for display ofbroadcast information as a designated embedded object of the web page.

The first region 241 for display of web information can include any typeof objects that can otherwise be embedded in a web document, includingtext, graphical objects, animation, program elements, or frames orsub-frames.

The second region 242 for display of broadcast information comprises asection of the web information that includes a graphic whose source is adynamic and continuous display of a television signal. The particulartelevision signal can be resized and have its aspect ratio altered aswell. The particular television signal can be selected in response to achoice by the web information provider, such as by so indicating in anHTML tag, or can be selected in response to a choice by the individualrecipients 110. The graphic whose source is a dynamic and continuousdisplay of a television signal can itself be coupled to any web object,such as any personalized element or clickable object.

Method of Operation

FIG. 3 shows a process flow diagram of a method for combining televisionbroadcast and personalized/interactive information.

A method 300 is performed by the system 100, including the displayelement 120, the input element 130, the display controller 140, thebroadcast information interface 150, and the interactive informationinterface 160. The system 100 is also responsive to input from theindividual recipients 110.

At a flow point 310, the system 100 is brought into an initial state,such as by turning the power on or by using a reset switch.

At a step 311, the system 100 performs any required initialization, suchas the following:

-   -   performing any required power-on self-test or        self-authentication;    -   retrieving any required global information, such as time or        location of the system 100;    -   authenticating the particular individual recipients 110, such as        using a login procedure, and retrieving any preferences for        those particular individual recipients 110; and    -   selecting a web page, such as an initial page or home page, at        which the particular individual recipients 110 can begin        receiving web content.    -   In a preferred embodiment, the system 100 records a location of        the home page, and any preferences for retrieving information        from that home page, with a set of recorded preferences 350 for        the individual recipients 110. For example, the preferences 350        can include a set of parameters for a home page that includes a        CGI script or JavaScript program.

At a step 312, the interactive information interface 160 retrieves theselected web page for the individual recipients 110.

At a step 313, the interactive information interface 160 retrieves anyother web content associated with the home page.

At a step 314, the system 100 determines if there is any broadcastcontent included among the web content to be retrieved. If so, themethod 300 continues with the step 315. If not, the method 300 continueswith the step 317.

In a preferred embodiment, broadcast content can be included among theweb content to be retrieved using a URL including “TV://”. This new “TV”protocol can be used as either a location or as an image source, and canthus fully link any broadcast television signal into any web page orframe.

For a first example, the “TV” protocol can be used as a top locationtyped in at a menu bar, in HTML using “tv://3”, or in Javascript (usingtop.location=“tv://same”).

For a second example, the location can specify a frame in a frameset, inHTML (using <FRAME SRC=“tv://3” NAME=”tv”>), or in Javascript (usingtop.frame[0].location=“tv://3”).

For a third example, the location can be specified as the destination ofa link, in HTML using the HREF property (using <A HREF=“tv://3”></A>).

Thus, the author of a web page or frame can set the entire background ofthe web page or frame to correspond to a broadcast television signal, orcan provide a selected “screen” region in which the broadcast televisionsignal is to be displayed.

For a first example, the following HTML, lines each set the backgroundimage of the page to correspond to a broadcast television signal:

-   -   <BODY BGCOLOR=“transparent” BACKGROUND=“tv://same/”> (351)    -   <BODY BGCOLOR=“transparent” BACKGROUND=“tv://03”> (352)    -   <BODY BGCOLOR=“transparent” BACKGROUND=“tv://MTV” (353)

HTML line 351 sets the background image source to whatever channel thetelevision tuner is then currently set to. HTML line 352 specificallysets the background image source to channel three. HTML line 353specifically sets the background image source to the channelbroadcasting MTV.

For a second example, the following HTML lines include a broadcasttelevision signal as a window in the web page content:

-   -   <IMG SRC=“tv://same/”> (354)    -   <IMG SRC=“tv://7” width=564 height=204> (355)    -   <IMG SRC=“tv://36”> (356)    -   <IMG SRC=“tv://KPIX”> (357)

HTML line 354 sets the image source to whatever channel the televisiontuner is then currently set to. HTML line 355 specifically sets theimage source to channel seven, with a specified height and width. HTMLline 356 specifically sets the image source to channel 36. HTML line 357specifically sets the image source to the channel broadcasting KPIX.

For a third example, the following HTML lines include a broadcasttelevision signal as a full-screen television window in the web pagecontent:

-   -   <A HREF=“tv://”></A> (358)

HTML line 358 sets the anchor reference for a window to a broadcasttelevision signal.

At a step 315, the broadcast information interface 150 retrieves theselected broadcast content. For example, if the selected broadcastcontent includes a selected television signal for video display andaudio presentation, the broadcast information interface 150 tunes to theassociated television channel for that television signal and retrievesthat television signal.

At a step 316, the system 100 determines if any personalized informationis included with the broadcast content. For example, the broadcasttelevision signal can include personalized information or otherinformation, such as web browser “cookies,” in the VBI or otherout-of-band portion of the television signal. The display controller 140can alter the presentation of the broadcast content, such as for exampleby selecting a particular camera angle (or otherwise selecting amongmultiple broadcast channels, sources, or streams), in response to thepersonalized information. Moreover, the personalized information candirect the system 100 to retrieve different web content; if so, themethod 300 returns to the step 312.

In alternative embodiments, the broadcast television signal can includemuch other information, such as pointers to web content (URLs orembedded web objects), in the VBI or other out-of-band portion of thetelevision signal. The system 100 can use this other information todisplay options to the individual recipients 110, to alter thepreferences 350 for the individual recipients 110, or to otherwise alterits state to enhance the simultaneous presentation of the broadcastcontent and the (individual or personalized) web content.

At a step 317, the display controller 140 formats the screen for displayon the television monitor 121. As part of this step, the displaycontroller 140 integrates the selected broadcast content into the webcontent for display (and presentation) using the display element 130. Ina preferred embodiment, the display controller 140 uses information fromthe preferences 350 to determine, at least in part, how to integrate theselected television signal into the web content.

At a step 318, the display element 120 displays the screen to theindividual recipients 110. After a short period of time, the method 300returns to the step 317 to reformat and redisplay the screen. Forexample, if the web content can include animation or a program element,or the broadcast content can include a motion picture (as it typicallywill).

At a step 319, the input element 130 detects input from one or more ofthe individual recipients 110. A wide variety of possible inputs, andconsequently a wide variety of possible responses, are within the scopeand spirit of the invention. These include at least the following:

-   -   The input includes personalization information or otherwise        alters preferences for the individual recipients 110. The method        300 returns to the step 312 so that the display controller 140        can retrieve other web content, and consequently reformat and        redisplay the screen, in response to the personalization        information. The system 100 can also record the personalization        information in the preferences 350.    -   The input selects new selected interactive information. The        method 300 returns to the step 312 so that the interactive        information interface 160 can retrieve the new selected        interactive information, similar to retrieving the home page.    -   The input turns the system 100 off. The system 100 performs any        required termination, and returns to a quiescent state. When the        system is next activated, it will return to the flow point 310.

General Applicability of the Invention

Those skilled in the art will recognize, after perusal of thisapplication, that the particular examples shown herein are a few of themany possibilities for combining web content (which can be interactiveand personalized) with broadcast content (which can be dynamic andselected from multiple sources).

Any individual web object can have a selected television signalpresented for display as an embedded object within the web object, suchas a frame or sub-frame, a graphical object, or an object presentedusing a program element (such as a CGI script or Java or JavaScriptprogram). For example, a web object can be constructed including all orpart of many selected television signals for display, so the individualrecipients 110 can choose to watch individual television signalsaccording to parameters selected and performed by a web server orapplication.

Any selected television signal can be presented for display underlying atransparent web object, so that the web object can be presented inconjunction with the television signal without obscuring any significantpart of the television signal. Moreover, principles of web design can beused in conjunction with the television signal, so elements of thetelevision signal can be made interactive. For example, a televisionsignal advertisement including a telephone number can have a web objectsuperposed so individual recipients 110 can select the telephone numberto call it.

Alternative Embodiments

Although preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations arepossible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of theinvention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled inthe art after perusal of this application.

1. An information system, comprising: a controller, for generating animage representative signal adapted for use by a display device; abroadcast interface, for applying broadcast information to a controller;and an interactive information interface, for applying interactiveinformation to said controller; said controller including said broadcastinformation, said interactive information and a user selectable elementin said image representative signal such that corresponding presentedimagery includes an interactive portion, a broadcast portion and a userselectable element.
 2. The information system of claim 1, wherein: saiduser selectable element comprises a hyperlink having associated with itan object; said interactive information interface, in response to aselection of said hyperlink, includes said object associated with saidhyperlink within said interactive information.
 3. The information systemof claim 1, further comprising: an input device for selecting said userselectable element, said input element comprising at least one of akeypad, a pointing device and a graphical user interface.
 4. Theinformation system of claim 1, further comprising: data memory forstoring a user preference.
 5. The information system of claim 1,wherein: said interactive information interface comprises a networkaccess device.
 6. The information system of claim 5, wherein: saidinternet access device includes a web modem.
 7. The information systemof claim 1, wherein: said interactive portion of said imagery comprisesobjects retrieved from a network and displayed in a first image panel;and said broadcast portion of said imagery comprises broadcast videoimagery displayed in a second image panel.
 8. The information system ofclaim 7, wherein: said first panel is at least partially transparent andoverlaps said second panel.
 9. The information system of claim 1,wherein: said user selectable element includes a control button forselecting a preference, said preference being used to determine how saidbroadcast information is presented in relationship to said interactiveinformation.
 10. The information system of claim 1 wherein said firstimage panel is used to display web content.
 11. The information systemof claim 4, wherein: said user preference stored in said data memory isaccessible to at least a networked server to which the preferencerelates.
 12. The information system of claim 1, wherein: saidinteractive information interface retrieving information from a networkin response to the reception of broadcast information conforming to auser preference.
 13. The information system, of claim 12, wherein: saidretrieved information is displayed in said first image panel.
 14. Theinformation system of claim 12, further comprising: data memory forstoring a user preference, said user preference being stored in saidmemory by a web site interacting with said interactive informationinterface.
 15. The information system of claim 12, further comprising:data memory for storing a user preference, said user preference beingstored in said memory in response to user interaction via said userselectable element.
 16. A method of displaying information comprising:initializing a display system; receiving selected web content; receivingbroadcast content; receiving personalized indicia; formatting receivedweb content, received broadcast content, and received personalizedindicia into video information; and displaying video information tosimultaneously produce interactive information having a user selectableelement and a television broadcast.
 17. A method according to claim 16further including identifying personalized indicia within at least oneof the displayed video information and an out-of-band portion of atelevision signal.
 18. A method according to claim 17 further includingretrieving personalized information based on the personalized indicia.19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the personalized indicia is aweb browser cookie.
 20. A method according to claim 15 further includingretrieving preferences and formatting the received selected web contentand received broadcast content based on those preferences.